Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 18th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fog and patchy light rain north Scottish highlands early, breaking for a dry bright afternoon; smokey views east Scotland. Warm and dry with widespread high fire risk. Sun and fair weather cloud England and Wales, afternoon scattered showery bursts from Yorks Dales NP southward to Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Active fire north Cairngorms; cloud and some light rain, improving
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 10-20mph, gusty over the Cairngorm plateau, may reach 30mph at times over eastern Cairngorms, particularly early when gusts push downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but walking becomes impeded in gusts to the east and feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Patchy rain
Patchy rain affects the Cairngorm plateau from time to time, a few extended falls with early drizzle on high terrain. Rainfall totals likely small, slopes south of high Cairngorms seeing little if any.
Cloud on the hills?
Lingering on high northern slopes
May be fairly extensive at dawn, to 600m northern Cairngorms into Strathspey area. Soon lifting and breaking, southern slopes clearing cloud soonest; varied banks over the high Cairngorms, bases to 1100m northern slopes at times, increasingly broken into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, gradually rising, to 70% into evening
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, more often cloudy on high northern slopes. Smoke from wildfire in the north Cairngorms impacting visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C northern Cairngorms, to 12C southern Cairngorms/Drumochter area. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 19th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 5-15mph, strongest wind early in the east, sustained 25mph with stronger gust; perhaps later too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but walking inconvenienced in early wind to the east.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Largely clear
At dawn, mist on some sheltered northern slopes, well broken and soon dissipating for clear hills; southern slopes largely clear. Late afternoon into evening sees the return of banks to high Cairngorms, bases to 1100m north slopes into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best on southern slopes. Visibility impacted by smoke from fires.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9 to 12C, mildest southern Cairngorms/Drumochter.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 20th July 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Jul 26 at
3:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-20mph, strongest sustained wind eastern Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Little or none
Some fine drizzle may affect the high Cairngorms, notably early, but more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to tops, well-broken later
From dawn, fairly extensive above 700-800m over Cairngorm plateau; always higher cloud base to the south, starting near or above 900m. Base lifts, mostly above 1100m by afternoon, southern slopes clearing, then more widely breaking up late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy to start on north slopes, sun increasingly breaking out, widely later. Very good visibility (may still be smokey due to fires).
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 11 to 13C; always warmest south of Cairngorm plateau (to 14C Drumochter).
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Ground conditions remain very dry with wildfire risk; some areas in north Wales, the Peak District, and Cairngorms NP are currently inaccessible due to fire hazards. Weather remains settled late weekend into next week as high pressure persists west of Ireland. A northerly flow will cool temperatures slightly, dawn temperatures in the middle single digits in Scotland; staying warm in England and Wales but hill temperatures unlikely reaching the 20s. Cloud and drizzle starts to affect northwest Scotland more often, occasionally drifting further south, chance of an area of rain slipping south through the country Tuesday to Wednesday, though totals likely small. An unsettling trend is indicated for the following weekend, bringing wind, some rain, and cooler temperatures.